Copper Alloy C96700
UNS C96700
C96700 (Alloy 72C) is the higher-hardness member of the cast copper-nickel-beryllium family, age-hardened for wear resistance in tooling and bearing service.
Reference datasheet — C96700 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the TF00 condition
C96700 tempers and conditions
C96700 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. TF00 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated | Softest condition — used for rough machining, straightening or forming before precipitation aging. | 240 | 450 | 20 | 120 HB | 4 % IACS |
As sand cast | Pick only for rough/oversize castings that will be solution treated and aged afterwards. | 275 | 450 | 10 | 150 HB | 5 % IACS |
TF00Default Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Standard supply condition: maximum strength and wear resistance for tooling, bearings and non-sparking parts. | 620 | 760 | 5 | 34 HRC | 6 % IACS |
What is C96700?
C96700 (Alloy 72C) is the higher-hardness member of the cast copper-nickel-beryllium family, age-hardened for wear resistance in tooling and bearing service. Aged properties are 620 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 5% elongation and 330 HB (34 HRC), with 33 W/m·K thermal conductivity, 6% IACS, service to 315 °C and a corrosion resistance score of 80; it is non-sparking and non-magnetic. Ductility is limited and beryllium content requires exhaust and wet machining practice. C96600 is the lower-hardness, higher-conductivity option in the same family. C96700 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,080°C (1,976 °F). C96700 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 152 GPa (22 Msi).
What is C96700 used for?
- mold and die inserts
- bearings and bushings
- non-sparking tools
- downhole/oilfield wear components
Advantages
- Stiff — 152 GPa (22 Msi), better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 80/100, better than 96% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- High service temperature — 315°C (599 °F), better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 5%, worse than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 6 % IACS, worse than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades
C96700 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C96700-TF00; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C96700 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,080°C (1,976 °F).
Mechanical13
C96700 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 152 GPa (22 Msi).
Thermal5
C96700 is rated for continuous service to 315°C (599 °F). It conducts heat at 33 W/m·K (19.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 89% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16 µm/m·K (8.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C96700 conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 93% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 96% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C96700 takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 99% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
C96700's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (35/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the copper alloy family
Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade FabDigit runs. C96700 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C96700
Is C96700 easy to machine?
Machine in the solution-treated (TB00) state where possible; in TF00 use rigid setups, sharp carbide, positive rake and modest speeds — beryllium-containing dust and fume require local exhaust and wet methods.
Can C96700 be welded?
GTAW with matching Cu-Ni-Be or Cu-Ni filler is feasible on clean surfaces; the heat-affected zone loses aged strength, so re-solutionize and re-age critical weldments.
Can C96700 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as sand or investment castings with generous risers due to a wide freezing range; forming is limited to light straightening in the soft TB00 condition.
C96700 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Niincludes Co | 29 – 33 | 31 |
| Beprecipitation hardener | 1.1 – 1.2 | 1.15 |
| Fe | 0.4 – 1 | 0.7 |
| Mn | ≤ 1 | 0.5 |
| Si | ≤ 0.15 | |
| C | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cu | balance |
What surface finishes work on C96700?
Takes a fine polish for bearing surfaces; not anodizable — use passivation, chemical blackening, electroless nickel or hard chrome where extra wear/corrosion life is needed.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on copper alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy C96700 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Alloy 72C
How much does C96700 cost?
C96700 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C96700 — frequently asked
What is C96700 used for?
C96700 is typically used for mold and die inserts, bearings and bushings, non-sparking tools and downhole/oilfield wear components. In short: hardest cast Cu-Ni-Be; non-sparking, non-magnetic; tooling and bearing grade.
What is the yield strength of C96700?
C96700 has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is C96700 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades). Machine in the solution-treated (TB00) state where possible; in TF00 use rigid setups, sharp carbide, positive rake and modest speeds — beryllium-containing dust and fume require local exhaust and wet methods.
Can C96700 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). GTAW with matching Cu-Ni-Be or Cu-Ni filler is feasible on clean surfaces; the heat-affected zone loses aged strength, so re-solutionize and re-age critical weldments.
What surface finishes work on C96700?
Takes a fine polish for bearing surfaces; not anodizable — use passivation, chemical blackening, electroless nickel or hard chrome where extra wear/corrosion life is needed.
Can C96700 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as sand or investment castings with generous risers due to a wide freezing range; forming is limited to light straightening in the soft TB00 condition.
What is the maximum service temperature of C96700?
C96700 is rated for continuous use to about 315°C (599 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C96700-TF00 and C96700-TB00?
TF00 is the default condition — standard supply condition: maximum strength and wear resistance for tooling, bearings and non-sparking parts. TB00: softest condition — used for rough machining, straightening or forming before precipitation aging. Yield strength is 620 MPa in TF00 versus 240 MPa in TB00.
How much does C96700 cost?
C96700 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B770 — Standard Specification for Copper-Beryllium Alloy Sand Castings for General Applications — ASTM International (2019)
- CDA/UNS Cast Copper Alloy Data — C96700 — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2: Properties and Selection — Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- Cast nickel-beryllium copper (Alloy 72C) tooling and bearing alloy datasheet — specialty copper-alloy foundries (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.